Pentagon workers shelter in place after air quality issue is detected

Some Pentagon employees were told to shelter in place on Thursday after building systems detected an air quality problem, according to a Defense Department spokesperson. Officials said several corridors on the building’s second through fifth floors were closed while air tests were being completed. The Arlington County Fire Department also said its hazardous materials team was assisting the Pentagon’s own response team at the site. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the building’s safety systems identified the issue and that standard precautionary measures were being used while teams assessed its significance. The Pentagon is the headquarters of the U.S. Defense Department and one of the world’s largest office buildings.